Pump Mounting Question

[Bawb2u]

my apologies!

maybe i should have said;
"Have you ever heard of a prefilter LOL"
i wasnt trying to be a dick, more like a smart-***.

the reason the pump isnt after the modular filters is because as they get clogged up it will restrict flow into the input of the pump, analogous to putting a ball valve in the line before the pump. I am sure you will agree that that should never be done.

if the prefilter gets some debris stuck to it, it will not restrict flow as much as the 25 micron cartridges would if clogged.

i am either plumbing it this weekend or next, will post pics

Ok, we're cool.
I've seen several modular setups, using both Ocean Clear and Lifeguard systems and all were set up with the pump at the end after the filtration units, that's why I commented. On both type systems, one of the modules has a built in pressure gauge, which is what tells you when it's time to clean the filter.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

Ok, we're cool.
I've seen several modular setups, using both Ocean Clear and Lifeguard systems and all were set up with the pump at the end after the filtration units, that's why I commented. On both type systems, one of the modules has a built in pressure gauge, which is what tells you when it's time to clean the filter.

I have ocean clears with pressure guages.

Do you happen to have any links to pics or similar set ups?

Another reason that I have the pump before the canisters is that the bulkheads are 2", the in and out on the pump is 1 1/2", and the connections on the canisters are 3/4". I didnt want to reduce from the 2" to 3/4" then go back to 1 1/2", makes the plumbing messy and inefficient.

I know I have the pump protected from any large debris entering the input, aside from that do you see any other worries with having the pump before the canisters?

 

[Bawb2u]

I have ocean clears with pressure guages.

Do you happen to have any links to pics or similar set ups?

Another reason that I have the pump before the canisters is that the bulkheads are 2", the in and out on the pump is 1 1/2", and the connections on the canisters are 3/4". I didnt want to reduce from the 2" to 3/4" then go back to 1 1/2", makes the plumbing messy and inefficient.

I know I have the pump protected from any large debris entering the input, aside from that do you see any other worries with having the pump before the canisters?

I don't have any pictures and couldn't find any by searching the net except for some on drsfostersmith.com of a Lifeguard system with the pump on the back side.
Now let me first state, I'm not a hydraulic engineer and I don't play one on the internet, so take anything I say as just my opinion but if your smallest fitting is a 3/4" that's your "choke point", by which I mean no matter how big any of your other pipes or fittings are, that's as fast as any water will be moving, so you could reduce all the plumbing before the canisters without any loss of flow and then upsize the pipe to match your pump input and output and then size up again to match the second bulkhead going back into the tank.
That being said, except for the fact you'll need to keep an eye on the pump for the impeller gunking up, the only thing I can think of is that as the filters get more debris in them, the amount of water they allow to flow through will lessen, while the pressure you are pushing through them won't, so there *might* be a possibility of a pressure leak. Think of it this way; with the pump pulling water through the filter, as it "clogs" it will have more negative pressure pulling the lid and seals down into the body and with the pump pushing water through the filter as it "clogs" it will have more positive pressure pushing on the lid and seals. Now, like I said, this is only my opinion and I've never set one of those systems up, I've only seen them in action but logically it seems to make sense to me but I'm sure that somebody will come into this thread soon and tell me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

I don't have any pictures and couldn't find any by searching the net except for some on drsfostersmith.com of a Lifeguard system with the pump on the back side.
Now let me first state, I'm not a hydraulic engineer and I don't play one on the internet, so take anything I say as just my opinion but if your smallest fitting is a 3/4" that's your "choke point", by which I mean no matter how big any of your other pipes or fittings are, that's as fast as any water will be moving, so you could reduce all the plumbing before the canisters without any loss of flow and then upsize the pipe to match your pump input and output and then size up again to match the second bulkhead going back into the tank.
That being said, except for the fact you'll need to keep an eye on the pump for the impeller gunking up, the only thing I can think of is that as the filters get more debris in them, the amount of water they allow to flow through will lessen, while the pressure you are pushing through them won't, so there *might* be a possibility of a pressure leak. Think of it this way; with the pump pulling water through the filter, as it "clogs" it will have more negative pressure pulling the lid and seals down into the body and with the pump pushing water through the filter as it "clogs" it will have more positive pressure pushing on the lid and seals. Now, like I said, this is only my opinion and I've never set one of those systems up, I've only seen them in action but logically it seems to make sense to me but I'm sure that somebody will come into this thread soon and tell me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

In the picture you posted, the pump is first, then the mechanical module, chemical, UV, and finally the heater. Very similar to what I will be doing, just on a different scale.

As far as the plumbing, it is just cleaner looking/easier to go from largest to smallest, or visa-versa. If i put the pump after the canisters than i am going from 2" plumbing from the tank, to 3/4" for the filters, to 1 1/2" for the pump, and then back to 3/4" for the returns. Just a pain in *** to plumb like that.

There is obviously head-loss from going from a large diameter to a smaller diameter no matter where in the system it happens. so I am just trying to make the plumbing easier and cleaner looking.

I get what your saying about the pressure, I will keep an eye on the pressure guages when its up and running.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

Mounted the pump today. I had big plans to do a lot of the plumbing, but this was all I got done, decided to go striper fishing instead of working on the tank....

The wood is Ainsworth HDO formply, held together with gorilla glue and stainless screws, and the bluish green pad is 1/2" neoprene

 

[Bud8Fan]

Centrifugal pumps should NEVER have the input restricted and by putting canister filters first that is restricting the flow to the input.

You are probably going to get some cavitation which will drasticly shorten the life of the pump. If it even pumps at all.

http://www.reeflopumps.com/dimsmanuals.html

I have a lot of experience with centrifugal pumps but it's your pump and your money so do what you want.

Cheers and good luck.

 

[justin guest]

I´ve seen enough pumps killed this way.
j<><

Centrifugal pumps should NEVER have the input restricted and by putting canister filters first that is restricting the flow to the input.

You are probably going to get some cavitation which will drasticly shorten the life of the pump. If it even pumps at all.

http://www.reeflopumps.com/dimsmanuals.html

I have a lot of experience with centrifugal pumps but it's your pump and your money so do what you want.

Cheers and good luck.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

you have obviously not have read the thread in its entirety, i have no intention of putting any canisters in front of the pump...

 

[Bud8Fan]

 

[justin guest]

you have obviously not have read the thread in its entirety, i have no intention of putting any canisters in front of the pump...

and the prefilter won´t restrict the pump? Ever seen a sandfilter pump die after the prefilter wasn´t cleaned in time?
j<><